Read to Kurī

At Read to Kurī, you will book in for a 15-minute one-on-one reading session with a therapy dog from our friends at Canine Friends Pet Therapy. You will be able to choose a book and curl up somewhere cosy in the library to read with your chosen dog. The dog's handler will be present at all times.

Read to Kurī aims to help tamariki improve their literacy, self-confidence, and self-esteem in a relaxed, non-judgemental environment. All dogs have been trained and tested for health, safety and temperament, and many have experience working with young children.

Research shows that therapy dogs:

• can increase a child's relaxation while reading
• listen attentively
• do not laugh, judge or criticise a child's reading level
• allow children to proceed at their own pace
• can be less intimidating to practice reading with than a child's peers

This programme is perfect for tamariki aged 5+ who would like to practice their reading skills, or older rangatahi and teens who need some time and space to de-stress, while making a new canine friend at the library. Bookings are essential as spaces are limited.

Our regular schedule is presented below, but you can always check our event calendar for the most up-to-date times and locations.